by Robert Anthony
April 26th 2024
The Fundamentals for Revival Series
Part Two:
The Return of the Brotherhood I
I grew up in Church. I have heard hundreds if not thousands of sermons. I think something happened to us, as Christians. I think Christianity was hijacked a long long time ago. If we, as Christians, were to forget everything we have been taught (and mostly we have been taught thru religion), reread the New Testament and then obey it – our Christianity would look unbelievable different!
I realize I sound so radical writing these things. I don’t mean to be so radical but if the Christianity around us is content to worship God however they see fit but without concern for how God actually wants to be worshiped; and if I am one of the few who are actually interested in what God says, wanting to adhere to His Word – then yes, I would seem quite radical to many.
I might write about it later? I don’t know if it will help us to try and figure this out but somewhere along the way, we got off track and built this religion. I would have to define religion as “Man’s way of approaching God, as opposed to how we actually enter into relationship with Him.” Simply put, religion is man-made. I have so much to say on the subject actually and maybe I will in the next articles... This could easily be a book I write.
So, forgetting for a moment all the religious tradition and dogma that permeates our understanding of the things of God – let’s return to the Bible, anew.
Losing our religion, and returning to the story of God, who sent His Son to us, Jesus Christ, our Messiah, what do we actually see? Jesus came to us humbly, without pomp and circumstance, without the nations bowing down before Him, without armies surrounding and protecting the coming of the Son of God… Jesus came, born in what we would call a barn.
The Son of God remained rather modest and discreet among us. Even though He would perform miracles, miracles that have never been recorded in the whole of human history, the Son of God remained rather contrite and understated. He was entirely meek all throughout His ministry and life, having absolute power from God and yet choosing to remain somewhat obscure, withdrawn and one might even say, in hiding…
Look at what His brothers and sisters said to Him on occasion, “Depart [from here], and go into Judaea, that thy disciples also may see the works that thou doest. For there is no man that doeth any thing in secret, and he himself seeketh to be known openly. If [you can] do these things, shew thyself to the world.” (John 7:3-5) And then the scripture records, “For neither did his [family] believe in him.” The Son of God chose all throughout His life and ministry to remain as if hidden, withholding of Himself but revealing Himself to whomever He chose.
This is a very important point to consider: God’s own Son was extremely purposeful, choosing who to hide Himself from and who to reveal Himself to. Here is another story I enjoy: Jesus had just finished rebuking the religious leaders and they were so angry with Him, as they often would be, they “rose up, and thrust him out of the city, and led him unto the brow of the hill whereon their city was built, that they might cast him down headlong.” (Luke 4:29) The religious leaders and religious zealots were out of their minds angry, ready to throw the Son of God off a cliff and murder Him! But Jesus, “passing through the midst of them went his way…” What did He do? Or how? How did He do that!? How do you simply “pass throughout” “the midst” of an angry crowd ready to murder you and leave!? Did He make Himself disappear? What on earth did He do to peacefully leave them!!? It’s a truly remarkable story.
But even moreso remarkable, to me, is the way Jesus chose to deal with that crowd. If I was God’s Own Son, imputed with the powers of creation, having absolute authority over it, even able to bend and break it’s natural laws, like walking on water or calming a storm with my words, I might choose another way of dealing with evil and wicked, religious zealots. In another story, another one of my favorites, John 18, Jesus sends the band of soldiers coming to arrest Him, probably around 600 strong, tall men, to the ground! At His word! They asked, “Where is Jesus of Nazareth” and Jesus responded, “I am He”. And “as soon then as He had said unto them, I am He, they went backward, and fell to the ground.”
So in one occasion Jesus shows us He is more than able to destroy, even at merely His word but in another occasion we see Him being ever so merciful and patient with the people, instead of destroying them, simply “passing thru the midst”. The Son of God had all power and authority throughout His days on the earth and yet He chose over and again to love us, to extend mercy and compassion, even towards His enemies!
So what was the Son of God’s purpose on the earth? He clearly wasn’t showing off. He was very purposeful in everything He did. I think this is one of the keys to unlock the whole story and not just Jesus’ story but to unlock the whole story of God! The Son of God came to save us, without a doubt and He chose to do so by pouring Himself into twelve men, twelve men who became His best friends.
I think we miss this because of our form of religion. I think our religion obfuscates and veils actually who God is. I think looking thru the lens of religion we see a very different version of Jesus and His kingdom. I believe once we remove these dirty and curved glasses, we will be able to see Him as He truly as, even as if for the first time ever!
Jesus ministered to the masses but only at times. The way I see the story, and I think this is Biblical, the Son of God chose for Himself twelve friends, twelve friends who also chose to befriend the Son of God, leaving all that they knew for Him, and they, together, grew in closeness, intimacy and friendship. In the same way we will share everything with our best friends, Jesus withheld nothing from those twelve friends of His.
Reread the New Testament, I believe this is the truth of the story and purpose of God’s Son and His time with us. He would minister to many people all throughout scripture but then He would always retreat and find time to be alone with His buddies, His bro’s. He had three closest friends out of the group, I love the story wherein He took them atop a mountain and the Bible describes, He transfigured in front of them, shining like the sun and becoming something altogether different than a man. The Son of God literally revealed everything of Himself to His best friends.
He wasn’t interested in fame, actually. He wasn’t interested in being known. He was actually entirely content to hide Himself and often. This is a truth all throughout scripture. How many times did He heal someone and say, “Tell no one.” His mother wanted Him to help out at the wedding (when they ran out of wine) and He rebuked her, telling her, “Woman, my time has not yet come.” (But Mary assured the attendants at the wedding that Jesus would listen to his Mom and do her this small favor for her friends.)
How much of the power of God in Jesus’ life wasn’t even recorded!? John ends his gospel in such a way, “And there are also many other things which Jesus did, the which, if they should be written every one, I suppose that even the world itself could not contain the books that should be written. Amen.” What we do know, and clearly, is that Jesus had absolute authority over His creation (which He made) and yet constantly withheld of His power, even unto death! What an amazing and beautiful story is the true story of God!
Then, even at the end, He didn’t even pray for the world, He wasn’t focused or concerned about the masses but He went into the garden and wept, praying for His very best friends. John 17, “I pray for [my best friends]: I pray not for the world, but for them which thou hast given me; for they are yours.” Such a wonderful and beautiful and intimate and amazing story of God! He is so much better than we are, so much more loving and genuine and caring and intimate and perfect – and we are all so messed up. But it’s Ok. He knows.
I love the story of God. I love talking about it, writing about it, singing about it, etc. – I love everything about God and His Son, Jesus.
I hope this has blessed you all...
God chose to treat us like friends, like His own family, like brothers – and yet we are ruled by men and rule over men? Even in His name…? Jesus was abundantly clear on this point, “Be Brothers and Friends” – listen to what He commanded them – “But Jesus called them unto him, and said, Ye know that the princes of the Gentiles exercise dominion over them, and they that are great exercise authority upon them. But it shall not be so among you: but whosoever will be great among you, let him be your minister; And whosoever will be chief among you, let him be your servant: Even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.” (Matthew 20:25-28)
I would paraphrase this scripture like so, “The world and the powers of the world function thru dominance and hierarchy but with you, who are my Apostles and Disciples, let it not be so. If you want to be great in my kingdom, become the true servant of men. Whosoever would be the greatest among you, would be the best minister, the one to serve them the best! Even as I came to you humbly, broken, contrite and meek, often withholding myself and my power, so you give your lives for them, even as I have.” I think that’s a pretty good paraphrase.
We were never supposed to dominate or crush the world into submission, but to love them. We weren’t supposed to create this religion but to become very close friends, the family of God on the earth. But somehow, we become this religious version of Christianity. We should repent, change our ways, learn to be brothers and sisters, and become again the family of God. I have so much to say on the subject.He sent them out by twos! Reread the scriptures. There wasn’t a man ruling them all. There was something like a body or family of believers. Throughout the scriptures we are taught that there are all kinds of parts of the body, many different roles and participants and gifts in the family: apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors, teachers; other gifts like, tongues, miracles, healing, faith, prophecy, governments, etc. There were bishops, deacons and elders appointed among them. Christianity, what was given to us originally, is a teamsport.
In many ways we really need to scrap everything we are doing and start all over again, like hitting the reset button on a computer. We need to start a fresh, asking God, “How do we live as your children on the earth? We really don’t know how to do it…”. And in doing this, a countless many leaders and elders and rulers and old men and women will oppose us. Jesus said, “Drink New Wine!” But answered Him, “The old is better.”
There is something broken about us that doesn’t like to change, we are often rebellious and want to do things our own way. We like to stick to what we know often because we are afraid, afraid of the unknown. But this is not what it is to be children of the Living God. I have so much more to say about this. I pray that many hear me. If we return to Him and chose to live out our days walking with Him, loving who He loves, being the family of God…. We will see the victory! Even with our own eyes!
More to come.
(Great song - on Topic)